Typographical slug



Patented June 4, 1935 i i UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE TYPOGRAPHICAL SLUGWalter w. mm. Wilmette, m., assignor, by

memo assignments, to Teletypesettcr Corporation, Chicago, 111., acorporation of Delaware Application June 20, 1931, Serial NIL-545,774

4 Claims. (Cl. 101-474) cializing in late stock market news have adoptedthe method of setting up only that portion of the slug which carries thename of the stock placing it on a galley and thereafter manually settingor composing the information relating to the price indication orquotation, which is of a changeable nature. In this manner the stock Idesignation or fixed information is composed or set-up in advance andthe new or late information is set or composed manually. Under such aplan, this stock quotation matter is maintained (or kept alive", as itis known in the printing trade) in the page or on the galley andcorrections are made by hand as the changes occur. which may be receivedover the ticker or telegraph service. This method requires an enormousamount of time and a very large operating personnel. In some cases oneor more clerks call out the quotation or fill out a copy blank for thequotation and each compositor of the stock table makes the necessarycorrections manually in the section of tabular matter assigned to him.

The primary object of this invention is to provide a simple, rapid, andeiilcient method and system of composing and arranging reports ortables.

The above object of the present invention is accomplished according tothe preferred form thereof by the use of an automatically controlledline casting machine which produces slugs or bars of type containing thequotations of the stocks with great accuracy and high speed andmaterially minimizes the likelihood of figures being displaced ortransposed. These slugs or bars are cast with a frangible partcontaining an index number determined in accordance with any one of thewell known stock listing systems and assigned to a particular stockwhich identifies the slug with its companion slug which contains thedesignation of the stock and which is pre-set, thereby making itunnecessary to cast a slug containing both the name of the stock and itsquotations. In assembling the slugs carrying the index numbers with thepre-set or stock designation slugs which are previously arranged in thepage or galley, the frangible part of the former slugs is readily brokenoff so that there is no interference in the printing. Specifically, thefrangible part of the slugs is cast with a fin-like projection whichcarries the index num- 5:

ber produced less than type high and which readily breaks when it isbent due to its placement laterally of the pre-set slug.

Other objects of the invention will appear from the followingdescription of the preferred em- 0 bodiment of the invention taken inconjunction with the accompanying drawing in which:

Figure 1 is a diagram of a system of typesetter mechanism controlledautomatically from a perforated tape which may be prepared tele- 15grapically,

Fig. 2 is a perspective view of a group of composed matrices,

Fig. 3 is a detail view of the slug-casting mold,

Fig. 4 is a perspective view of the slug-casting 20 mold preparatory tomolding or casting,

Fig. 5 is a perspective view of one form of slug cast in accordance withthis invention,

Fig. 6 is a perspective view of an alternate form of slug cast inaccordance with this invention,

Fig. '7 is a perspective view of a pre-set slug,

Fig. 8 is an elevational view of the slug in Fig. 5,

Fig. 9 is a view illustrating the relative position of a slug in agalley,

Fig. 10 is a plan view of a complementary pair of slugs, and

Fig. 11 illustrates a portion of a stock table set by the method ofthepresent invention.

Typesetting by telegraph comprises funda- 35 mentally a telegraph systemand a mechanical type composing apparatus. The latter may, be such as isdisclosed in U, S. Patents Nos. 436,531 and 436,532, to O. Mergenthaler,dated Sept. 16, 1890, in which circulating matrices are released 40 frommagazine channels by operating escapement latches. Such release is madein the order in' which the characters are to appear in print and thenassembled in line. The composed line is thereafter transferred to theface of a mold 4 and the mold filled with molten metal which whensolidified forms a slug or integral line of type which has received onits edge the impression of the matrices. Thus is produced a slug withtype characters thereon. The matrices are 50 thereafter elevated andreturned through distributing mechanism to the magazine channels fromwhich they were first released.

The line of type may be composed telegraphically by the method set forthin Patent No.

1,970,567, issued Aug. 21, 1934 to L. M. Potts, in which the previouslymentioned escapement latches are adapted to be selectively operated.

The patent discloses a printing telegraph receiver adapted to a moderntype-slug-casting machine, whereby the type-slugs may be producedautomatically under the control of telegraph signals. I

A diagrammatic illustration of such a control is disclosed in Fig. 1. Inthis figure, the keyboard perforator I2 is of the type shown incopending application Serial No. 390,252 filed Sept. 4, 1929 by E.Kleinschmidt et al., while the transmitter I3 is of the constructiondisclosed in U. S. Patent No. 1,635,131 dated July 5, 1927; thereperforator l6 of the type shown in co-pending application Serial No.411,122 filed Dec. 2, 1929 by E. Kleinschmidt; and the automaticallyoperated slug casting machine l8 may be as disclosed in aforementionedPatent No. 436,531 and Patent No. 1,970,567.

In the system shown in Fig. 1 the information from the stock ticker isedited at a central station, at which place a tape II is perforated by akeyboard perforator l2 in accordance with said information and fed to atransmitter l3 by means of which signals are transmitted over line wirel4 to a series of receiving stations l5. At each receiving station thesignals are received by a reperforator I6 by which a tape I1 isperforated identical with the originally perforated tape II at thecentral station. Tape I1 is then utilized to control the operation of aselector mechanism associated with the typesetting or slug-castingmachine l8, substantially as disclosed in the aforementioned Patent No.1,970,567. By this method any number of remote stations I5 may beprovided wherein the stock quotation information is directly set 1"; onthe typesetting machines under the direct control of the centralstation, so that one editing operation sufilces for any number ofnewspapers.

Slug production Fig. 2 shows the arrangement of a composed line ofmatrices. This line together with the suitable number of spacers 10,- orexpansible space bands l9 as shown in Fig. 4, is presented to the faceof the mold to effect the casting of a slug or integral line of typesubstantially as described in the aforementioned patents. Now, inaccordance with this invention, it is proposed to produce a slug asshown in Figs. 5, 6 and 8 wherein each slug 20 is provided with afrangible portion 2|. As is well known in the printing art, the moldcomprises a slot-like aperture in the mold disk. In modern devices ofthis class the molds constitute separate units, which are re movablyattachable to the mold disk. In Fig. 3 is shown such a mold 22 with themain parts separated and arranged with a. body adapted to be fastened tothe mold disk by means of screws 23-23 or any other suitable method ofattachment. The mold 22 is provided with a cap 24, a

right-hand liner 25, and a left-hand liner 26 which are adapted to beclamped to the body of the mold by means of swivel bolts (not shown) orsimilar means.

The right hand liner 25 is generally of the same length and for thisreason is termed the constant liner, it being necessary to change itonly when a thicker or thinner slug body is desired. The left-hand liner26 can be changed for slugs of different length and thickness. The spacebetween the ends of the liners 25 and 2.6

- and hole 3| control the position of the liner 25.

The mold cap 24, by means of a dowel 32 fitting intothe hole 33 in theliner 25 is positioned accurately in relation to the body 22.

To produce a slug substantially as shown in Figs. 5 and 6 liner 26, Fig.3, is provided with a shallow notch 34, adjacent the molding space orchamber (Fig. 4) and disposed outwardly toward the matrices. Therefore,when the line of matrices is justified, that is to say, when the matrixline is expanded to the proper width by means of the expansiblespacebars or bands I 3, (Fig. 4), as is well known in the art, arecessed space 34 is formed by means of which the frangible portion 2|integral with the slug or line of type 20 (Figs. 5 and 6) is produced.

To render the portion 2| more readily frangible, there is provided inthe preferred embodiment herein disclosed a ridge portion 36 (Fig. 3)disposed on the edge of the notch 34 nearest the molding chamber, whichis adapted to produce a groove 31 (Fig. 8) in the under surface of theportion 2| contiguous to the body of the slug. It is, of course, obviousthat the height of the ridge portion 36 must be of a lesser dimensionthan the depth of the notch 34.

As previously mentioned, each slug is provided with an index numberpertaining to the stock, which is cast on the frangible part 2| of theslug 20. In this connection, a matrix 30 (Fig. 2), is provided, whereinthe letter character is punched or incised in the face or casting edgeof the matrix instead of at the bottom of a notch or indentation, as isthe common practice in the art. As is well known, it is from theseindented characters that the raised characters are cast on one edge ofthe slug. The purpose of positioning the punched character as shown onmatrix 30 is to produce on the slug, in the casting process, a characterof less height than the character to be impressed or printed. Refen'ingto Fig. 8, the character marked 38 is shown to be of less height thanthe characters marked 39; that is, character 39 is less thantype high.If desired, the low characters may be so cast that they are of positiveform, as shown in Fig. 6, instead of negative form like printing type,as indicated in Fig. 5. However, it may be desirable to utilize the samefont of type as is used to produce the slugs. This may readily be done,in which event the characters 33 will be type high.

Table method Figs. 9, 10 and 11 relate to the preparation of stockquotation tables. The slugs when cast are placed in a vertical row orcolumn in a galley 42 (Fig. 9). Each column comprises a left-hand row ofpre-set slugs 4| and a right-hand row of replaceable slugs 20. Aspreviously noted, the slugs 4| are composed and'cast in advance andconvey information of a fixed nature, such as the name or abbreviationof the stock, and are set on the galley 42 to be held in readiness toreceive their companion slugs 20. To produce these slugs 4| by themethod according to this invention a perforated tape may be preparedlocally at each newspaper ofilce for the stock designations, and byrunning the tape through the automatic slug-casting machine a fresh setof stock designation slugs may be produced each day.

When the slug 20 has been cast in accordance with the latest informationor stock quotation it is placed endwise against the corresponding end ofits companion pre-set sing, in the manner shown in Fig. 9, with itsfrangible part 2| overhanging the pre-set slug ll. While slugs 20 and Hare maintained in this relative position the operator scans theinformation conveyed on the pre-set slug 4| and also the index charactermarked 38 on slug 20 to note if they agree. If he observes that theindex character marked 38 agrees with the information on slug ll, slug20 is then pressed downward, into place, either manually or in any othersuitable manner. When the slug 20 has reached substantially the dottedline position 43 in its downward path the frangible part 2| will haveyielded and been forced obliquely upward as shown at 44, Fig. 9, thussufliciently weakening the frangible part so that it will break offunder the further pressure required to thrust the slug 20 into itsproper position.

In Fig. 10 is clearly illustrated in plan view the relation of slugs illand II. The stock abbreviation N. Y. C., chosen for the purpose ofillustration is clearly shown on slug ll, and on slug 20 are clearlyshown the stock index marked 38 (which we have assumed to be N! forpurposes of illustration) and the price or quotation indicated at 3!.The columns thus properly prepared are transferred to the page formpreparatory to being stereotyped, as is well known in the art. But, aspreviously mentioned, the new and latest quotations are being constantlyreceived telegraphically and are composed directly and automatically onthe typ graphical machine. It therefore becomes apparent that in orderto furnish the last minute stock market news to the public, provisionmust be made to change quickly the quotations previously set up in thepage form. By employing the method disclosed herein such last minutechanges or alterations can readily be made by removing the now obsoleteslug 20 and replacing it with the new slug conveying the latestinformation.

A modification of the above method is to cast the high", "low, and"close quotation each as a separate slug. In this case a completequotation might comprise merely the stock designation and either thehigh, low or closing price. The first quotation item of the day for eachstock or commodity would require sending three quotations; viz., high,low, and close, each accompanied by a stock designation or index. A new"high quotation would require sending a single price and a stockdesignation. Likewise, a new low or a new closing" quotation wouldrequire sending only a single price and a stock designation.

In Fig. 11 a portion of a stock quotation table is shown as it appearsin printed or published form. That part of the column to the left of theline 40-40 is allotted to the name or abbreviation of the stock. In theparlance of the trade this portion of the column of slugs in the galleyor in the page form is known as the stu On the other hand, that portionof the column to the right of line lit-40 is allotted to the price orquotation of the stock, and since it is well known that these pricesfluctuate, the reason for providing replaceable slugs for this portionof the column is readily apparent.

An effective method has thus been provided for quickly, accurately, andeificiently handling the volume of stock data received and printed bynewspapers and like enterprises.

The invention may be embodied in other specific forms without departingfrom the spirit or essential characteristics thereof. The presentembodiment is therefore to be considered in all respects as illustrativeand not restrictive, the scope of the invention being indicated by theappended claims rather than by the foregoirig description, and allchanges which come within the meaning and range of equivalency of theclaims are therefore intended to be embraced therein.

The invention claimed is:

1. In the typographical slug-casting art, a slug adapted to beassociated with a pre-set slug, said first named slug comprising afrangible portion adapted when said first named slug is assembled inprinting relation with said pre-set slug to be severed by thecooperation of the adjacent edge of said pre-set slug with the frangibleportion.

2. In the typographical slug-casting art, a slug adapted to beassociated with a pre-set slug, said first named slug comprising afrangible portion adapted when said first named slug is assembled inprinting relation with said pre-set slug to be severed by the shearingcoaction between the adjacent upper edge of said pre-set slug and thefrangible portion.

3. In the typographical slug-casting art, a slug adapted to beassociated with a pre-set slug, said first named slug comprising aportion integral thereto, the conjunction of said portion and said firstnamed slug being of reduced dimension whereby when said first named slugis assembled in printing relation with said pre-set slug said portion issevered by the cooperation of the adjacent edge of said pre-set slugwith said portion.

4. In the typographical slug-casting art, aslug adapted to be associatedwith a pre-set slug, said first named slug comprising a portionappurtenant thereto, and means conjoining said portion and said firstnamedslug effective when said first named slug is assembled inprintingrelation with said pre-set slug to render said portion more readilyseverable by the cooperation of the adjacent edge of said pre-set slugwith said portion.

' WALTER W. MOREY.

